TGC is the major power provider for the Hawaiian islands. It produces and delivers hydrogen along with natural gas. TGC plans to separate the hydrogen from its pipeline and send it to filling stations for fuel-cell vehicles.

Hawaii is uniquely qualified for this project, announced last week, because it depends on imported fuel for 90 percent of its energy, and the state is committed to reducing its petroleum use by 70 percent in the coming years.

GM has invested $1.5 billion in fuel-cell transportation over the past 15 years and said it hopes to have a fuel-cell vehicle ready for market by 2015.

GM’s current fuel-cell program, Project Driveway, is the largest demonstration of fuel-cell vehicles in the nation. Selected participants and cities have been chosen to test hydrogen-powered Chevrolet Equinoxes for three months at a time. Since 2007, more than 1.4 million miles have been driven on pure.